Vermin killer (electric gun)



y 5, 1966 A. M. SENKEWICH 3,

VERMIN KILLER (ELECTRIC GUN) Filed Feb. 21 1964 '5 Sheets-Sheet l \(C) L J Q K3 Q INVENTOR dut y 1966 A. M. SENKEWICH 3,

VERMIN KILLER (ELECTRIC GUN) Filed Feb. 21 1964 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTOR July 5, 1966 A. M. SENKEWICH VERMIN KILLER (ELECTRIC GUN) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21 1964 INVENTOR.

United States Patent m 3,258,872 VERMEN KELLER (ELECTRIC GUN) Alexander M. Senkewich, New York, N.Y., assignor of thirty-five percent to Feodosi Neuronow, New York, N.Y., five percent to James M. Heilman, Rye, NRA, and five percent to Marjorie Kingston, Flushing, N31.

Filed Feb. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 346,526 4 Claims. (Cl. 43-132) This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending application Serial No. 202,199, filed Tune 13, 1962, entitled Electrical Termites (Insect) Killer, now abandoned in view of this application presenting the invention in better form.

An object of this invention is to kill some types of small invertebrate vermin.

Another object of this invention is to use for the extermination of such vermin a stream of single sign charges expedited by a simultaneous discharge of high voltage, high frequency, oscillating current.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will appear from a reading of the following specification and claims, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction and process of manufacture hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be further understood that my invention is susceptible of embodiment in many and various forms, one of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and that the structural details herein set forth may be varied to suit particular purposes and still remain within my inventive concept.

FIG. 1 illustrates one form the electrical system may take.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the electric gun.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the gun.

FIG. 5 illustrates the housing for the transformer used in the first circuit.

FIG. 6 shows the housing for the remainder of the circuits.

FIG. 7 is another view of electric gun.

This invention results from the following observations by applicant:

(1) A linear coductor, such as, a wire, irrespective of whether straight or coiled, connected at one end with the pole of an electric generator of direct current, in the range of, for example, 5,000 to 6,000 volts, and free at its other end, becomes charged but its charges are dissipated into the air at an extremely slow rate.

(2) If the same linear conductor is, at the same time, exposed to induced electric oscillations of high frequency, and the latter cause a high voltage discharge from the open end of the conductor, the charges of the direct current brought to the conductor from a generator or rectifier join in the discharge and thereby create a direct current through the air and also through wood, brick, marble, concrete and even glass.

(3) The presence of this direct current is noticeable for a certain distance beyond the open end of that linear conductor either by its effect on a milli-ammeter, or by its killing action upon insects that come into the cone of the radiated current as long as the density of the radiated current in the area of the cone does not become too low.

THE INVENTION Applicant reduced the above observations to a practi cal for-m useful in destroying all kinds of small invertebrate vermin by building an electric resonator generally 3,258,872 Patented July 5, 1966 of the usual type, and sending a high frequency current in the range of, for example, 5,000 to 6,000 volts through its primary coil. A current of a much higher voltage and the same 'high frequency of oscillations was induced in the resonators secondary coil. One end of this secondary coil was connected with one pole of a generator of direct current in the range of, for example, 5,000 to 6,000 volts, or with one pole of an electronic rectifying hook-up.

With a total power input of 1.5 k.v.a. into the whole apparatus, i.e., the resonator and the auxiliary system of fixtures, the inventor obtained a radiation of electric charges of a constant sign (plus or minus as desired), which radiation is noticeable in free air by its killing action upon crawling (like cockroaches) or flying (like wasps) insects for a distance of approximately twenty inches from the radiating end of the resonators secondary coil. An obstacle like a wooden wall six inches thick covered with stucco on the outer side reduces the illing distance to approximately 7 to 9 inches in a circle of twelve to sixteen inches in diameter.

The figures above, i.e., distances, voltages, etc., are merely illustrative. It might well be possible to use currents of less or much more than five to six thousand volts, and the power input might be raised, limited only as far as the convenience of handling the relatively cumbersome apparatus would permit.

The apparatus can be used wherever the usual volt lighting current is available providing the wiring can stand the necessary amperage.

The operation of clearing the wooden walls of a house from termites proceeds as follows: The box or boxes carrying the auxiliary equipment which produces the high frequency electric oscillations, and the rectified pulsating current of 5,000 to 6,000 volts is set up upon a small platform movable on wheels. It is attached to the source of alternating current and grounded at the necessary points. This platform is moved forth and back by a helper following the directions of the operator so that the cable carrying two currents to the resonator will not be fouled.

The operator takes the handle of the resonator, throws in the necessary switches, observes the electric signal lamps showing that all circuits are in working order, and approaches one of the lower corners of the wall that is to be treated. He points the radiating head of the resonator (which latter shall from now on be called the electric gun), at that corner, keeping the radiating head one to two inches away from the wall, waits two to three seconds, and moves toward the other corner stopping for two to three seconds every six inches or so, but keeping the electric gun continuously aimed toward the surface of the wall.

After arriving at the opposite corner of the wall, the operator raises the aim of the electric gun about 6 inches and walks back, playing the electric stream upon the points of an imaginary six inch higher horizontal line until he comes to the starting corner. From there he walks again to the second corner raising the aim of his electric gun by another six inches, and repeats these operations until the wall has been covered.

Upon reaching the maximum height convenient to the stature of the operator, the operator continues his work higher up by mounting a ladder, for example, movable upon a pair of wheels along the ground and another pair of wheels gripping the cornice of the wall or in some other suitable manner.

In this manner one wall of a two-story house, twenty feet wide and twenty-two feet high, is cleaned of live termites within one and a quarter hours. A proper mechanical system, and an apparatus of three k.v.a. should do this work in thirty to forty minutes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS The main part, and the one to which the inventor attaches special importance is the resonator, i.e., the electric gun. It is shown under FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 2, numeral 53 indicates a radiating head fitted to the open end of the resonators secondary coil, 54 and 59 are ring-like disks of insulating material protecting the instrument from backwashes of the discharge from the radiating head, 58 is the outer shell of insulating material enclosing the space of the secondary coil, 60is the outer shell of insulating material enclosing the space of the primary coil, 62 is the metallic socket holding the handle of the electric gun, 63 is the handle (wooden or plastic), 64 is the tubular, heavy rubber shell of the cable carrying the three ends 31, 31 and 32 of the electric guns primary and secondary coils, 29 and 30 are connectors of the coil ends 31 and 31', while 49 is the connector for coil end 32.

Referring to FIG. 3, 131 indicates the primary coil of the electric gun, 132 is the secondary coil, 57 is the space enclosing the primary coil and the secondary coil of the electric gun and filled with a high insulating material poured while in the molten state, 61 is the wooden base of the gun.

The purpose of the wiring hook-up as illustrated in FIGS. 1, and 6 is to supply the primary coil of the electric gun with a high frequency oscillating current of a voltage of the order of 5,000 to 6,000 volts or thereabouts, and the secondary coil of the gun with a current of rectified charges, of a voltage of the same order of 5,000 to 6,000 volts. It is drawn along lines well known to the art, and thus calls merely for a description but for no discussion of theory.

Alternating current, having phase and ground, is switched to contacts 1 and '2 from a 120 v. line. The current is grounded to contact 2 at point 15. The volt-age of this current is measured by voltmeter 8 through transformer 9. After being switched on the current passes through safety fuses 4 and 5 and is served to the distributing Wires of the apparatus by main switch 10. At this, signal lamps 6 and 7 indicate whether safety fuses 4- and 5 are in working order.

By switching on switch 12, the current passing through safety fuse 16, at contact 28 closes the circuit of primary coil 19 of step-up transformer 18. Signal lamp 15 will show that primary coil 19 of transformer 18 is active under current. One end of this primary coil is grounded at point 26. This grounding, and also-the grounding of secondary coil 20, serves for the protection of the transformer from high frequency currents.

Spark gap 23 consists of two electrodes placed very closely to each other with one or several intervals. Spark gap 23, together with condenser 22 and primary coil 31 of the high frequency transformer goes into the composition of the so-called high frequency circuit. Condenser 22 receives a charge with each semi-oscillation of the cycle of the high voltage alternating current from secondary coil 20 of high voltage transformer 18. When the voltage of this charge reaches maximum, then a spark ap ears in spark gap 23. Through this spark and primary coil 131 of the high frequency transformer occurs the damped wave discharge of condenser 22. Such a damped wave discharge of condenser 22, passing through coil 131, creates in it variable magnetic fields which induce high frequency current in secondary coil 132. The cycle indicated above will repeat with every semi-oscillation of the alternating current charging condenser 22. One end of secondary coil 132, through condenser 47, is grounded at point 48, and from the second end, at point 53, occurs the spark discharge of the damped'waves of high frequency high voltage current.

In order for the spark discharge to be realized, there must be present resonance of currents, which is possible at the identicality of the oscillations of currents in secondary coil 132 and primary coil 131. In the feeder circuit of condenser 22 there is, without a core, choke coil 21, the task of which is to protect secondary coil 20 of transformer 18 from high frequency current. Winding 3 serves for the feeding of voltmeter 17 showing the voltage of transformer 18.

By the turning on of switch 11, alternating current from the line, through safety fuse 13, enters into sep-up transformer 33 and step down transformer 40. Signal lamp 14 shows that safety device 13 is in working order and that transformers 33 and 40 are energized. Transformer 40, a step-down transformer, has voltage of 1.5 volts and serves to heat the two vacuum tube rectifiers 43 and 44, connected to each other in parallel. From the middle turn of secondary coil 42 of transformer 40 there is a leadoff which carries the pulsating current through choke coil.

45 to contact 49, to which is also joined the beginning end of secondary coil 132 of the high frequency transformer and condenser 47.

Transformer 33 serves for the raising of the voltage of the alternating current from the line. From the secondary coil 35 of which transformer, high voltage alternating current through choke coils 36 and 37 enters the anodes of vacuum tube rectifiers 43 and 44 and subcquently is rectified into direct current. Coke coils 36, 37 and 45 serves to protect the vacuum tube rectifiers from high frequency currents from secondary coil 132 of the high frequency transformer. The second end of secondary coil 35 of transformer 33 has a choke coil with iron core 38 and choke coil 39 without yoke. Choke coil 38, together with condenser 47, serves as a filter evening out the pulsations of direct current from vacuum tube rectifiers 43 and 44. Choke coil 39 serves as a protector of choke coil 38 from high frequency currents. After choke coil 39, the wire carrying the potential minus of the direct current is grounded at point 46.

In this way, the plus of the high voltage current turned on at point 49 goes along secondary coil 132, in which at this same time a high frequency high voltage resonant current is created. This direct current subsequently, along with the spark discharge of the damped waves of high frequency high voltage resonant current goes, from tip 53, to the ground through a termite or other irradiated vermin and thus closes the circular circuit.

The scheme shown in FIG. 1 embraces three circuits: one results in sending to the primary coil of the resonator an alternating current of high frequency, but a modest voltage of about 5,000 to 6,000 volts; the second results in sending into the secondary coil of the resonator a steady stream of pulsating rectified charges and of the same order of voltage as the first circuit, thus turning the ordinary resonator into an electric gun capable of killing and exterminating many kinds of invertebrate vermin which demage wooden structures, spoil cereal grains, and ordinary beans, soy beans, coffee beans, cocoa beans, etc.; the third circuit is for the purpose of properly heating the filament of the Kenotrons used in the second circuit.

The first circuit is composed of 1, 2 terminals of the primary source of alternating current supplied by ordinary lighting or power outlets; 4 and 5, safety fuses; 15, ground connection; 10, main switch; 12, the switch of the first circuit; 16, safety fuse; 27 and 28, connectors to the primary coil of the transformer; 19, primary coil of the step-up transformer; 18, the transformers iron core; 20, secondary coil of the transformer (yielding a voltage of 5,000 to 6,000 volts); 21, choke coil; 22, condenser; 23, spark gap; 29, 30, connectors to the primary coil of the resonator; 131, primary coil of the resonator; 24, safety fuse; 25, 26, grounds; 132, secondary coil of the resonator; 53, the radiating head of the secondary coil; numeral 3 is'an auxiliary part coil of the secondary coil of the above transformer 20 and serves to measure the full voltage by computation from the readings of the voltmeter l7, WhilC 51 and 52 are terminals of the voltmeter.

The second circuit or rectifying circiut is composed of 11, switch connecting this circuit to the main line; 13, safety fuse; 33, core of the smaller step-up transformer; 34, primary, 35, secondary (step-up) coil of this transformer; 38, main chock coil with an iron core; 36, 37, 39 core-less chokes; 43, 44, Kenotrons; 46, ground of this second circuit; 4?, connector to the secondary coil of the resonator and to the filtering condensers; 47, 50, discharge switch.

The third circuit, i.e., for heating the filaments of the Kenotrons, composed of 41, the primary coil of the step-down transformer; 40, this transformers core; 42, the secondary (step-down) coil and the sliding contact (to control the amperage); 45, choke coil.

Also, further auxiliaries are as follows: 6, electric light illuminating the switchboard of the auxiliary set-up; 7, 14, 15', electric lamps showing whether the three circuits are working; 8, voltmeter of the main line; and 9, its step-down transformer.

Referring to FIG. 5, the housing containing the transformer used in the first circuit, 27 and 23 are plugs sockets 27 and 28' and plugs connecting the primary coil of this transformer to the main line; 51 and 52, sockets, and 51 and 52" plugs to the voltmeter showing the voltage in the secondary coil of this transformer; 67, ground connection; 68, grounding wire; 56, cable carrying wires from 27" and 28" and 51", 52" from this transformer to the box carrying the balance of the auxiliary set-up and contained in the box in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates electric light 6 illuminating the switchboard; 7, 14, 15', signal lights showing that the three circuits are in working shape; 8, voltmeter for the supply line of the electric current; 17, voltmeter measuring the voltage developed in the secondary coil of the transformer in the first circuit; 10, 11, 12', switches; 4, 5', 13', 16', safety fuses; 27', 28' input sockets to the primary coils of the transformer in the first circuit; 51', 52, sockets to the voltmeter of that transformers secondary coil; 29', 30, connectors to the primary coil of the electric gun; 49', connector for bringing rectified current to the secondary coil of the electric gun; 65, plug-in for the ground; 66, grounding wire.

It is thus seen that applicant has developed a new and unobvious device for expeditiously and effectively eradicating vermin without the necessity of contacting 4 either the insects themselves or their food with poisonous chemicals or solutions.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for killing and exterminating various invertebrate vermin damaging wooden structures and granular food products, consisting of a high frequency transformer having primary and secondary coils, means for feeding high frequency current of high voltage to said primary coil to produce high frequency current in said secondary coil, and means for charging the secondary coil from a source of a direct current of high voltage, and means for discharging said high frequency and direct currents simultaneously in order to produce a continuous stream of electric charges killing the vermin.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the high voltage is in the range of 5,000 to 6,000 volts.

3. An apparatus for killing insects comprising a radiating head, means for providing an oscillating first discharge of high frequency, high voltage alternating current from said head, and means for providing simultaneously with said first discharge a second discharge of high voltage direct current from said head.

4. An apparatus for killing and exterminating various invertebrate vermin damaging wooden structures and granular food products, consisting of a high frequency transformer having primary and secondary coils, means for feeding high frequency current of high voltage to said primary coil to produce high frequency current in said secondary coil, and means for charging the secondary coil from a source of a rectified current of high voltage, and means for discharging said high frequency and direct currents simultaneously in order to produce a continuous stream of electric charges killing the vermin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,016,790 2/1912 Smith. 2,064,522 12/1936 Davis 43-98 X 2,783,760 3/1957 Smith 43124 X FOREIGN PATENTS 474,187 10/ 1937 Great Britain.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiner.

W. H. CAMP, Assistant Examiner. 

3. AN APPARATUS FOR KILLING INSECTS COMPRISING A RADIATING HEAD, MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN OSCILLATING FIRST DISCHARGE OF HIGH FREQUENCY, HIGH VOLTAGE ALTERNATING CURRENT FROM SAID HEAD, AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING SIMULTANEOUSLY 